MO has one of the highest fatality rates for motorcyclists

It's stayed steady for the last few years, but we're usually No. 9 or No. 10 for fatal motorcycle wrecks. A lot of the dead are middle-aged riders, the News-Leader reports.

"Not only are gas prices going up, so people are looking to motorcycles, but you're getting a lot of re-entry riders, baby boomers who used to ride that are getting back into it," he said.

Many overlook the fact that motorcycles on the market now are heavier and more powerful than those they used to ride, Meyers said. "The bike is twice the size of what they used to ride, and of course our physical abilities are not quite what they were when we were younger."

Quote of the day

“They said ... everybody’s complaining about cow tails and ears being cut off. I’m going, ‘Hey, she’s an old woman in her 60s. She puts some chicken bones down and drinks some tomato juice.’ I had to send her back to Kansas City.”

-- Pat Rohrbaugh, 68, the former owner of strip club Pat's Lounge of Pittsburg, Kan. Rohrbaugh recalls the time she had a voodoo priestess perform.

Seriously, if you have time, read the whole Joplin Globe story by Greg Grisolano. It contrasts how Pittsburg has lived with an all-nude club for years while Jasper County, Mo., is freaking out and trying to ban a proposed juice bar and other adult businesses. And there's more from Rohrbaugh, who tells about running a gentleman's club in rural Kansas for 30 years. 

Hat Tip: Many thanks, FanDanGo!

UPDATE: Iowa City man kills wife, their 4 kids, police say

His in-laws say they've already forgiven Steven Sueppel, the alleged embezzler who reportedly beat his wife and four kids to death last week. Probably helps that he's already driven into a concrete abutment on I-80 and killed himself ...

The wrong end of the shotgun

This is probably one of the more amazing stories I've read lately. A victim tricks a robber into giving up his sawed-off shotgun ... then proceeds to beat, strip and rob the guy who had been trying to rob him.

Everything goes smashingly until the shotgun, which is being used to beat the robber, goes off and hits the "victim" in the stomach, killing him. The robber ran away naked.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, You're A Mean Drunk R2D2!

James M. Fleming

Fleming is the gentleman who was reportedly shot by a KCPD officer this weekend. Fleming is now facing charges of second-degree assault on a police officer.

One man injured in KC officer-involved shooting

From KCPD: On Saturday March 29, 2008 at about 11:00pm three Kansas City Missouri Police Officers were in the area of 7th and Park regards to narcotics activity in that area.

The officers contacted three men outside of an apartment there, one of which had a gun; that man was ordered to put down his weapon and when he refused was shot by one of the officers. The suspect who was shot was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injury which appeared to be non-life threatening. The two other men were taken into custody.

No officers were injured in this incident.

Poison drummer accused of rape in MS casino

In case you were wondering what Rikki Rockett was up to these days ...

(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, file)

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

Police officer Tasers dog

Story is from Arizona. The really impressive part, I think, is that he was being chased at the time and still managed to make the shot.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, eephus!

1 teen dead, 1 teen injured in KCK shooting

From The Star:

The victims, both males, were walking in the area of 13th Street and Ridge Avenue about 9:15 p.m. when they were hit by gunfire from a passing vehicle, police Capt. Roger Golubski said.

The victims were taken to a hospital, where one of them was declared dead.

After the shooting, shell casings littered the intersection of 13th and Ridge, and police cordoned off several blocks around the scene. Golubski said officers were investigating the possibility that the shooting was gang-related.

Police were looking for a long, black older-model sedan with at least two suspects inside, Golubski said.

A truly disturbing mugshot

I'd post it here, but I don't want to be responsible for the various hysterical-blindness lawsuits that would be sure to follow.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Blondie2Hot7!

7 DUI arrests at KCPD sobriety checkpoint

From KCPD: The Kansas City Missouri Police Department conducted a Sobriety Checkpoint on March 28, 2008 from 2300 hours to 0400 hours at Ward Parkway and Wornall (9400 Block of Wornall). Southbound traffic was checked with total of 286 vehicles stopped. A total number of 7 DUI arrests were made, along with 2 other traffic violations.

Report: $40 billion stolen from U.S. charities in 2006

About 13 percent of what was donated, the report concludes. And a lot of it was taken by employees who embezzled. Nonprofit experts are criticizing the report. saying the estimate is too high.

Suspect won't be prosecuted over series of KS rapes

Using DNA tests, Kansas investigators tied a convicted killer, Doug Belt, to seven rapes between 1989 and 1994. Because the statute of limitations was running out, authorities had issued a "John Doe" warrant -- a warrant in the name of whoever met a specific DNA profile.

The Kansas Supremes, though, have knocked down the warrant and, with it, the likelihood these rapes will be prosecuted. The warrant was just too vague, the court said. (And it probably didn't help that authorities had major problems keeping blood samples straight.)

Aussie man claims to be God, refuses to show up for court

The Almighty is facing charges of DUI.

Saw this via News Of The Weird!

Questions about Independence pursuit?

A witness tells KMBC that a police officer drove the wrong way on I-435 to chase a fleeing vehicle that was also going the wrong way. Independence PD says it's going to review the dashcam footage to see if that's what happened.

After all this time

Summer Shipp's remains are finally going to be buried.

KCPD investigates another case of elder abuse

Again, we're seeing a case of an elderly woman who's been left in her own waste and suffering from other medical issues. She's in critical condition, the police say.

Open Thread ... Weekend Edition

The Open Thread never shuts down, not even on the weekends! This is our place for off-topic comments and discussion, but if you've seen something interesting elsewhere, feel free to post a link!

Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. I read the OT, but if you need to contact me directly, my email is jhart@kcstar.com.

Thanks again for spending time here, and have a great day!

Did this man kill Brandon Fauntleroy-McDowel?

From Christine Vendel:

Kansas City police today released a sketch of a man suspected of killing Brandon Fauntleroy-McDowel in a carjacking Tuesday.

A witness who saw the man driving away in the victim’s red 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe after the crime at Eighth and Jefferson streets worked with artist Lee Hammond today to create the sketch.

Police did not provide height or weight estimates because the witness only saw the suspect sitting in the vehicle. The witness told police the man’s complexion was “very dark.”

Anyone with information should call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $11,000 is available and callers can remain anonymous.

KCK murder suspect goes free because he didn't get a speedy trial

From Bob Cronkleton:

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled today that a murder charge against a Kansas City, Kan., man be dismissed because his rights to a speedy trial were violated.

The Supreme Court found that the case against Mario Larenzo Mitchell, 21, must be dismissed and that he is free from further prosecution relating to the murder.

Mitchell was awaiting trial in Wyandotte County District Court regarding the murder of Keith Watson, 19.

Mitchell allegedly shot Watson to death about 2:20 a.m. Jan. 8, 2005, at a gas station at 4701 Parallel Parkway. Mitchell allegedly walked up and fired at Watson several times while he was sitting in a vehicle at a gas pump.

Mitchell’s first trial ended in mistrial in September 2005. He was shot that same day and waived his right to a speedy trial.

Jury selection for his new trial began March 26, 2007. The next day prosecutors appealed a district court ruling regarding Mitchell’s prior juvenile record.

The court then suspended the proceedings pending the appeal. Mitchell objected to the appeal and reasserted his rights to a speedy trial.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mitchell.

OH man accused of having sex with a picnic table

A couple of thoughts ...

1. This stuff usually happens in the UK. So, way to go, Ohio.

2. A tipster reportedly provided 3 DVDs to the police, showing the table-desecration as it happened. Three DVDs!

Sauntsye Love

Please forgive the delay, but a while back, Jackson County prosecutors dropped charges against Love, who was accused of a July 5, 2005, homicide on Quality Hill. No one else has been charged in the case.

TX judge: 1st Amendment protects strip clubs, too

Recently, Texas passed a $5 entrance fee for anyone visiting a strip club in that state. The money raised was supposed to go to victims of sexual assault and people who didn't have health insurance.

A judge, though, has ruled this new law unconstitutional, saying that it impinges on free speech.

Teens fight with Tasers, cinderblocks in FL mall's parking lot, police say

I am sooo sorry that we don't have video of the actual fight. I bet it looked something like the Battle of Helm's Deep from "Lord of the Rings."

UPDATE: San Francisco tiger-mauling

Three guys were attacked by a tiger on Christmas Day at the San Francisco Zoo -- one of them died. The survivors, who happen to be brothers, look like they're getting ready to sue the organization, the Chronicle reports.

One of the brothers, by the way, is accused of shoplifting a Wii controller from Target.